Spirit Ridge: Stay™ | Green

Bellstar Hotels & Resorts has created the Stay™ | Green program - a sustainability plan incorporating company-wide triple-bottom-line operating policies and environmentally-friendly business practices to educate guests, suppliers and staff and to help preserve our planet for future generations. A standard set of guidelines are provided to all operational teams at our hotels and resorts with the goal of creating a sustainable world by using non-intrusive, high quality, eco-friendly products and services. Although these are steps in the right direction, we are constantly striving to create new opportunities to further decrease our ecological footprint while advancing the exceptional experience that our guests expect. Please visit www.bellstar.ca/green for more information.

Partnerships

Bellstar is a leading supporter of the Green Key and the Green Meeting Eco-Rating program. The Green Key and the Green Meeting Eco-Rating program are graduated rating systems designed to recognize hotels, motels, and resorts that are committed to improving their environmental performance. Based on the results of a comprehensive environmental audit, hoteliers are awarded a green key rating from 1-5 and given guidance on how to "unlock" opportunities to reduce environmental impacts through reduced utility consumption, employee training, and supply chain management.

Spirit Ridge is certified by, or partners with the following organizations:

Green Key Meetings

Green Key Global and The MPI Foundation Canada created the Green Key Meetings program as a comprehensive
assessment tool for hotel and resort properties that host meetings of
any size. The
assessment tool not only tells a hotel property what it has done to
date, it provides a roadmap on how to improve. Using the existing Green Key Eco-Rating Program as a benchmark, the
program is a comprehensive assessment designed as a tool to provide
Travel, Meeting and Conference Planners with a sense of a hotel’s level
of commitment to environmental issues. Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa is qualified as a category 4 Green Key Meeting property. For more information about Green Key Meetings please visit bellstar.ca/green-key-meetings.

Green Key Eco-Rating Program

The Green Key Eco-Rating
Program is a graduated rating system designed
to recognize hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving
their environmental and fiscal performance. Based on the results
of a comprehensive environmental self-assessment, hoteliers are awarded a
1-5 Green Key rating and provided with guidance on how to "unlock"
opportunities to reduce environmental impacts and operating costs
through reduced utility consumption, employee training, and supply chain
management. Each Bellstar property has been individually rated
by Green Key so that you, the guest, can better understand the level of
sustainable practices at the property. Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa has a level 4 Green Key rating. For more information about the Green Key Eco-Rating program visit bellstar.ca/green-key-eco-program.

Clean The World

Clean the World is a foundation committed to reducing the waste created
by discarded soap and shampoo products while preventing deaths by
hygiene-related illnesses around the world. By sending the unused
portion of Bellstar's soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion products to
Clean the World's recycling facilities, we are decreasing the waste in
our landfills and helping improve the quality of life for those in
homeless shelters and impoverished countries worldwide. For more information about Clean the World visit bellstar.ca/clean-the-world.

EcoStay™

Bellstar Hotels & Resorts partners with EcoStay™, a program that
will offset our properties carbon footprint. The program will be
launched in all Canmore and Osoyoos properties on April 20, 2012.
EcoStay™ is a national initiative that helps hotels measure their carbon
footprint, identify and fund reduction strategies and balance off their
greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsetting.

Under the
program, Bellstar properties will collect two dollars per night from
hotel guests. Funds will be used to purchase carbon offsets in support
of emission-reducing projects across the province such as renewable
energy, energy efficiency, composting and recycling - making each hotel
night completely ‘carbon neutral’. The guest’s contribution completely
offsets the impact or their stay, and more. Carbon offsets are supplied
by LivClean, a top ranked retailer by the David Suzuki Pembina. All
LivClean Eco-Stay™ Carbon Offset Projects are listed on the CSA Group’s
GHG CleanProjects™ Registry ensuring ISO 14064-2 reporting and
independent ISO 14064-3 verification. In addition, each offset tonne is
uniquely serialized by CSA Group to ensure proper retirement and avoid
double counting. For more inforation about Ecostay™ visit bellstar.ca/ecostay.

Team Green Effort

Each Bellstar property has an assigned Stay™ | Green committee consisting of three Bellstars (Bellstar team members). The team meets once a month to discuss environmental issues and strategies to go the extra green mile. Every property has an environmental information board, where team members can get up-dates on procedures & policies. Bellstars can also post a green idea and can be announced as “green thumb” of the month.

At Bellstar we actively celebrate & participate in the following environmental and community events:

World Water Day

Earth hour

Earth Day

Arbour Day Canada (in Canada, Maple Leaf Day falls on the last Wednesday in September during National Forest Week.

Community Clean up!

For our BC properties: BC Shake Out.

Electricity

At Spirit Ridge Vineyard & Resort, the suites are fitted with a Passive Infrared Wireless Energy Management System (WEMS). This device detects occupancy through infrared detector and micro-door sensors. This information is transmitted to the HVAC control module and decreases electrical consumption by 25-30%.

A policy of checking and reducing thermostat settings and closing drapes has been implemented in all areas and guest suites.

Swimming pool and hot tub thermal covers are not removed until a guest requests to use the pool. We kindly remind guests to put covers back on hot tubs after use.

Commercial dryers and hot water heaters are regularly maintained in order to maximize operating efficiency.

A policy has been implemented to replace old appliances with high energy efficient products.

Air and Water Quality

Bellstar Hotels & Resorts has converted several of our swimming pools to salt-water. This reduces chlorine off-gases to the environment. Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa’s pools and hot tubs have been converted to salt-water. Cleaning and Laundry Products: We use product lines which are free of acids, phosphates and butyl.

Water Conservation

Our in-room collateral asks guests to reduce water consumption and energy by giving them the option of re-using their towels and extending the use of their bed linens. This program extends the life of laundry equipment, reduces the consumption of laundry products and energy. This option has reduced our water consumption by nearly 13%. In Bellstar-developed resorts, we employ xeriscaping, a landscaping and gardening method that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental irrigation. Only indigenous plants and hydro seed whose natural requirements are appropriate to the local climate are used for the landscaping. The majority of required irrigation is achieved through drip irrigation which makes use of natural storm water.

Spirit Ridge Vineyard & Resort is collecting spent batteries from door locks and remote controls. They are delivered to the local recycling depot for proper disposal.

Bellstar is a proud partner of the Clean the World program. Every day in North America, thousands of hotels discard millions of pounds of soap and shampoo. These products often end up in already overflowing landfills and contaminate fragile groundwater systems. Clean the World distributes recycled soap products, along with appropriate educational materials, to impoverished countries worldwide and to domestic homeless shelters.

All office printers and copiers use 100% recycled paper. We have a policy of printing both sides whenever possible. All office waste paper is recycled. One sided paper is cut-up for scrap paper.All used ink cartridges are recycled.

All marketing materials are primarily distributed electronically by email, website downloads or on memory sticks. If printing is required, we print on 100% recycled (FSC certified) paper products. In addition, all Bellstar emails include the tag line: "Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail."

Environmental Purchasing

Wherever possible, we purchase food, beverages and services from local growers and suppliers. The majority of our menu items are created from local seasonal ingredients. Our deli and cheese selections are sourced from local suppliers and the wine list is comprised primarily of local wines.

We exclusively use Bath Amenities with ethical business practices and traceable soil-to-bottle process. The amenity line does not employ animal testing and the products are certified “cruelty free”. All soaps and liquids are a 100% biodegradable, all packaging and containers are made from up to 100% PCR material and are 100% recyclable. All of the products are made in Canada.

Spirit Ridge Vineyard & Resort uses product lines which are free of acids, phosphates and butyl. These products are Green Seal certified, Environmental Choice certified and are formulated in partnership with EPA Design for the Environment.

We use of garbage can liners that are biodegradable, compostable and manufactured from recycled content.

We use facial tissue, paper towels and toilet tissue that undergo a chlorine free manufacturing process and use up to 100% recycled and post-consumer fibers.

Climate Change

All our Alberta resorts have partnered with Direct Energy to make Bellstar the first major hospitality customer in North America to convert to 100% carbon-neutral energy by using carbon-neutral natural gas and EcoLogo certified renewable power. Under the program, Bellstar substantially lowers its impact on the environment by offsetting carbon emissions that result from the use of coal-generated electricity. EcoLogo energy comes from renewable sources such as wind, solar and run-of-river hydro. The natural gas consumed is carbon-neutral, offset through investments in projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Marketing Efforts & Communication

Our resort Group Coordinators have developed a green meetings package which enables Bellstar to offer green meetings to those who wish to host meetings at our resorts. This includes smaller items such as using recycled paper for flip charts to installing bulk water coolers in each meeting room or having the meeting group purchase carbon offsets through the Ecostay™ program.

Commitment to Community

Bellstar hotels & resorts strives to give-back to the communities where we work and play. We encourage our staff to volunteer in the community, we implement initiatives to train and employ aboriginal peoples, and our unclaimed lost and found items are donated to local charities.

We have also launched a pair of unique animal respect initiatives:

Our pet-friendly program provides guests’ pets an extra bit of pampering – a map of local dog parks, a list of local bi-laws, biodegradable doo-bags, treats, loaner leashes and water/food dishes. A percentage of the $20 per night pet-friendly fee goes to support the regional SPCA. To date, our donations have totaled over $12,600.

At a number of our resorts, we sell indigenous plush animals as souvenirs’ for our guests. Upon purchase of the animal, guests receive information about the animal and a portion of the proceeds goes to either Wild Smart, an awareness program that teaches about living with and respecting wildlife or to the NK’MIP rattlesnake research program. To date, our donations have totaled over $680.

Bicycle Rentals

Spirit Ridge is pleased to take part in the BIKE4FREE
program by offering free bicycle rentals in conjunction with the Stay™ | Green program.
Bicycle rentals are available through Guest Services. Each rental comes
with a helmet and a lock. Please inquire about availability by dialing
"0" from your guest room phone. There is bicycle storage located in the
parkade; we recommend you secure your bicycle with a lock.

Green Bucks

As part of Bellstar’s commitment to sustainability, conservation, and a greener hospitality experience, we offer you Bellstar Green Bucks for each day that you forgo daily housekeeping services during your stay. Green Bucks can be used towards your next Stay at a Bellstar Resort. By taking part in this initiative you will be helping to reduce water consumption, reduce energy consumption, reduce amenity waste, and reduce chemical use. Bellstar’s Stay™ | Green program includes partnerships with Ecostay™, Clean The World, The Green Key Eco-Rating program, and Green Key Meetings program. To learn more about these partnerships, and Bellstar’s commitments to energy efficiency and conservation visit www.bellstar.ca/green.